Question of the week

Published 8:00 pm, Saturday, May 24, 2003

Question: What should the Pistons do with the No. 2 pick?

CHRIS STEVENS:

Trade it.

Dont wait.

Swap it with one of these lowly teams (read: Clippers) who are desperate to get good in a hurry. Steal their best player (read: Elton Brand) and their highest draft pick (No. 6 in this case). At sixth in the draft, youre still going to get a very good player.

The Pistons need scoring and more speed on the front line. Thats why a guy like Brand - Tim Duncan actually is the perfect fit - would be a nice addition.

Detroit is two scorers away from competing for a championship.

Thats why I say get an established player right now. Dont hesitate. Deal away the No. 2 pick, get an established star and that teams highest pick, and get ready to roll into the finals next year.

This will work. Trust me.

CHRIS MARCHAND:

I think the Pistons need to find some players that can actually score. Yes, they're the best defensive team in the NBA but the reason they found themselves down 3-0 heading into the weekend was they can't shoot.

Enter Carmelo Anthony. The Syracuse star showed, especially in the national championship game against a good Kansas team, that he can be an offensive force. His aggressiveness to get to the basket will give the Pistons a definite lift.

I also wouldn't have a problem with the 7-footer Darko Milicic from Serbia. At 17 years old, he's the European version of LeBron James. He can shoot from long range as well as play in traffic.

But if I was the Pistons' GM, I think I'd give a slight edge to Anthony.

FRED KELLY:

Id really like to see the Pistons draft Sheryl Swoopes with the second pick. I think theyd have a decent shot of wooing her away from the Houston Comets if the price were right.

Actually, I doubt that Detroit can go wrong with either Carmelo Anthony or Darko Milicic, especially if the latter is as good as they say.

In Anthony, the Pistons would get a skilled, athletic small forward  something which they are lacking and which would take some of the pressure off their guards to score all of the time.

I dont know much of anything about Milicic other than the fact that hes 7 feet tall and hails from Serbia. But I do know the Pistons are pretty high on him, and if he can score inside at all, hed be worth looking into. After all, Ben Wallace is  lets face it  a total offensive liability, while Mehmet Okur and Cliff Robinson seem more capable of hitting perimeter shots than posting anyone up.

Or heres a thought:

How about trading that pick  along with a large pepperoni pizza, an Isiah Thomas rookie card, and anything else the Nets want  for Jason Kidd? Maybe then the Pistons will actually be able to beat New Jersey a time or two.

DAN CHALK:

How about drafting Chris Kaman? As a big man, he certainly would fulfill a need for the Pistons, and he has the defensive mentality that the team is built on.

Granted, he may not have the raw talent that Darko Milicic reportedly has, but Kaman will only get better over the next several years. Plus, hes a few years older and more mature than Milicic.

And, of course, Kaman is from Michigan and played at CMU. You wouldnt have the problems with him being homesick that you might have with Milicic.

Finally, Im sure Kaman is a big Pistons fan and he would love playing for them. I know Id love to see him stay in Michigan.